Osteonecrosis of the jaws induced by anti-RANK ligand therapy

• Published in: British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery Vol. 48; no. 3; pp. 221 - 223
• Main Authors: Taylor, K.H, Middlefell, L.S, Mizen, K.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents, Local - therapeutic use; Anti-RANKL; Antibodies, Monoclonal - adverse effects; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinoma - drug therapy; Chlorhexidine - therapeutic use; Denosumab; Dentistry; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Humans; Laryngeal Neoplasms - drug therapy; Male; Mandibular Diseases - chemically induced; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mouthwashes - therapeutic use; Osteonecrosis; Osteonecrosis - chemically induced; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; RANK Ligand - adverse effects; Surgery; Vascular bone diseases; Wound Healing - physiology; Denosumab; Anti-RANKL; Osteonecrosis; Jaw; Treatment; Ligand; Stomatology; Surgery; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rank
• ISSN: 0266-4356; 1532-1940
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjoms.2009.08.030

Abstract Since the introduction of bisphosphonates to treat diseases that affect remodelling of bone, increasing numbers of patients with bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws have been reported; the number is currently unknown. Recently anti-RANKL agents (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand) such as denosumab (Prolia™, Amgen Inc., California, USA) that have a similar mode of action to bisphosphonates have been introduced to treat such diseases. We report a case of osteonecrosis that was induced by anti-RANKL therapy. To our knowledge this is the first case to have been induced by these agents.